Foster Care News, Keeping you informed of children & youth services related matters in Canada, including enforcement issues, legislative updates, public campaigns and more. If you are looking for a good cause to support, consider contacting us. 613-709-3866 Good for MPP, MLA, Ministers, Lawyers, Legal Staff, Advocates, Families, children and youth.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Coronor Investigating Death of Mother - Possible Cause - CAS

The Ontario Coroner's Office is conducting an OPP assisted, Coroner's investigation into the suicide death of a client of an Ontario Children's Aid Society regarding the practices involved.

The following letter to the editor was submitted by John Dunn to the London Free Press for publication. If it gets published, it will be linked to here:

The London area Coroner, Dr. Mann is currently conducting an OPP assisted investigation into the suicide death of a London area mother which may have been caused by the actions of local Children's Aid Society workers who were allegedly acting aggressively toward her at the hospital shortly after her child's birth, threatening to take her baby from her.

The investigation was spawned by a letter to the Coroner from an advocate who was involved in the case, Jane Scharf, stating that the Society had two workers harassing her at the hospital and making false allegations in their affidavits to the courts.

In Scharf's letter to the Coroner, she concludes with "This is not the first death like this I have witnessed. The first was that of Tracy Cain who relapsed on drugs under the strain of losing access to her child at the hands of the Ottawa Children's Aid Society after five years clean time. I have also seen many other cases of aggressive, abusive, administrative practices where apprehension is pursued by all means available... legal or otherwise."

Now, I have heard in the news of another mother in Ontario who has a CAS pursuing her children and the mother has killed her two children. Is she protecting them from the CAS in her own mind?

CAS's need external accountability. If you can, call your MPP at the Provincial legislature and ask them to vote in favour of Bill 93 which if passed would give Ontario's Ombudsman jurisdiction to review Children's Aid Society decisions and actions.

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General Information

Donating to a CAS Foundation?Donating to a Children's Aid Society Foundation? Consider supporting former foster children who advocate for improvements in child welfare by e-mailing johndunn@afterfostercare.ca

Misappropriated Ministry FundsLearn more about over $2.5 Million per year in child welfare funds going toward paid lobbyists, the OACAS [link]

A Visit to the MinistryChris Carter and Families Visit Ministry of Children and Youth Services [link]

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CAS Board Meetings

Call your CAS to find out when their regular Board of Directors meetings are held and how you can attend to watch and participate. If you experience any resistance to your attendance call the Council at 613-220-1039 for support.

For example: Ottawa CASThe Ottawa CAS Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Head Office of the CAS at 1602 Telesat Court, Ottawa, ON, at 5:30pm in the Gloucester Room of the Society. (a short walk over the glass tunnel from Blair Transitway Station (away from the Mall not toward it)

Simply go into the main office of the CAS if doors are unlocked or buzz security if they are locked, then just sign in at the front desk telling Security you are there to attend the Board meeting.

When you sign in, the sheet asks who invited you, or who your contact person is, just put Barbara MacKinnon as she is the Executive Director and as head of the corporation offers an open invitation to the public to attend in accordance with their internal By-Laws. You can learn more by calling the Ottawa CAS at 613-747-7800 and ask for the Executive Office.